Unlike the virginal, whose single set of strings runs parallel to the

Hi CrushTHYGMAT.

It's not clear which version of the sentence in this question you are asking about. To answer your question, we need more clarity regarding what you're asking.

Hi CrushTHYGMAT,

I'm not sure which rule you're referring to, but in the noun phrase a single set of strings that run parallel, strings is not the subject of run. The word that introduces a relative clause here, and that is the subject of run. That points to some noun before it, but there's no easy "rule" that we can apply to figure out what it refers to. In other words, a relative pronoun may or may not refer to a noun within a prepositional phrase.

1. a single set of strings [that run parallel...] ← When we see only a verb after a relative pronoun (that) in a relative clause ([that run parallel...]), that relative pronoun is the subject of that verb (run).

The next step, figuring out what a relative refers to, isn't always easy, but if you tell us which rule you're trying to apply here, it's more likely that you'll receive responses that could help you take a call on how reliable that rule is.

Hi AjiteshArun and MartyTargetTestPrep, thank you for your prompt responses.

Rule that I'm referring to: With some special exceptions, the subject of the clause will not be found in a prepositional phrase.

I understand Ajitesh's point that:
- We have a relative clause in choice D 'that run parallel to the front edge of the instrument'
- That is the subject of the verb 'run' and now we have to identify what that refers to

I eliminated D because I thought that refers to the 'set of strings' and since it's a singular subject, we need a singular verb. But we see that 'that' is rather referring to noun 'strings', and hence, the plural verb 'run' is alright.

But how can 'that' refer to strings as subject because it is in a prepositional phrase 'of strings'. This prepositional phrase is modifying the set, which set? A set of strings.

So, my question is how can a noun that is a part of the prepositional phrase be the subject of the relative clause? Can relative pronouns such as that refer to nouns in the prepositional phrase?

Hope I've explained my query. Looking forward to your responses.

Hi CrushTHYGMAT,

A. If you've been led to believe that a relative (normally) cannot refer to a noun inside a prepositional phrase, there is no such (absolute) rule, but it'd be great to get more opinions on this. Sometimes, a test taker may prefer an approach that hides the actual complexity of an issue. Just to be clear, I'm not saying that this is a bad thing. It's up to you to decide whether you think this particular issue is important enough to warrant not taking any shortcuts.

B. If you've been told that the object of a preposition cannot be the subject of a clause in general, that's absolutely fine.

As always, it's good to be as precise as possible. We'll start once again with the fact that a noun that a relative refers to is never the subject of a verb inside a relative clause.

1a. The difficulty level of a question [that stumps me...]

As discussed earlier, the subject of the verb stumps is the relative that. Now, even though that points to a question (a noun inside the prepositional phrase of a question), we never say that a question is the subject of stumps. Why? Because if we look at a question as the subject of stumps, we may think that they form a subject-verb pair (a clause), like this:

1b. A question stumps me.

The problem is that (1b) is a complete sentence, whereas a question that stumps me is not. To make a mistake here is just asking for trouble, and an instructor should point such a mistake out.

2a. Some of the questions stump me.

Now, in this sentence, is some (of the questions) the subject, or is it just the questions? Clearly, not all the questions stump me, so we have an answer there. But if a student makes a mistake with a sentence like this, I don't always point it out. Most test takers can't give the GMAT more than an hour or two of their time every day, and instructors need to keep them focused on what really matters. In other words, I wouldn't really care about a problem here, unless it's related to something like subject-verb agreement.

2b. Of a question stumped me.

(2b) sounds really bad. We've forced the object of a preposition to act as the subject of a clause, which is just impossible. A mistake here is important, but if someone messes up on "the object of a preposition can't be the subject of an independent clause", it's most likely a silly mistake.

What I'd like you to check if whether you've taken (2) and applied it to (1) because you've been asked to look at the noun a relative points to as the "subject" of the verb inside the relative clause. If you have, then your approach is incorrect. You shouldn't look at the noun a relative refers to as the subject of the verb inside the relative clause.

Everything else makes sense, I got stuck between C & D. My ideal choice would have been D but I saw something in C. So in C , we have a single set of strings that runs _______, here "that" modifies strings or single set of strings? coz this will determine the usage of verb run (singular or plural)

In C, "that" modifies "set" because of the presence of the verb "runs".

EducationAisle sir,
If in option C, "that" refers to set, then can we eliminate option C on the basis that it is not the set but the strings that run parallel?

Please advise

Hello krndatta,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, this is indeed valid reasoning for eliminating Option C.

Kudos.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

GMATNinja I picked option C and I am not understanding what's the error in the option?

Unlike the virginal, whose single set of strings runs parallel to the front edge of the instrument, the harpsichord’s several sets of strings are placed at right angles to its front edge.

(C) which has a single set of strings that runs parallel to the front edge of the instrument, in the case of the harpsichord, several sets of strings are

Here set of strings (set is singular) so I used the singular verb 'runs'. Also, Unlike the Virginal is correcting being compared to in the case of Harpsichord.
Several sets of strings are (here also, it's the correct verb usage with the plural noun 'sets')

Please help.

Hello swikrityC,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, the comparison in Option C is incorrect; Option C actually compares the "the virginal" to "several sets of strings".

"Unlike" is the comparison marker, not a part of the elements being compared, and "in the case of the harpsichord" is a modifying phrase presented between two commas; the structure of Option C is such that the modifying phrase "Unlike the virginal" acts upon the noun phrase "several sets of strings".

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Hi swikrityC,

It is possible for the that in a single set of strings that to refer to strings. That's why we see the plural verb run in option D. As for option C, try to take a call on the basis of the comparison (we don't want to hide the harpsichord inside a prepositional phrase).

What I gathered here was that because of 'that' which refers to the noun before (strings) we were sure that the verb would be plural (run).
But I'm wondering if 'a single set of strings' is ever singular. As 'a group of people' is plural (collective), shouldnt 'a single set(collective) of strings' also always be plural? But then why is 'a basket of apples' singular?
GMATNinja, KarishmaB could you please clear my understanding. I seem to have dug a hole for myself.

Whether you use singular or plural depends on what you are referring to.

I have of string of pearls that were harvested in a remote area of Africa.

'that' refers to 'pearls' surely. We cannot harvest a string of pearls. We harvest pearls and then put them in a string. So we use plural 'were.'

I have a string of pearls that is very expensive.

Now we are talking about the string so we use singular 'is.' Though we say that 'that' refers to the immediately preceding noun, it is not always the case. Sometimes 'that' could refer to a noun before a prepositional phrase. We have to look at the context.
Ideally, we would re-write this as: I have a very expensive string of pearls.

A string of pearls is a perfect accessory with any dress.

Again we are talking about the entire string so we use the singular 'is.'

Hello StringArgs,

We hope this finds you well.

To clarify, collective nouns are actually always singular.

The phrase "a group of people" refers to a singular unit - "group" - made up of multiple people.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Hi,

but the correct way to say is 'a group of people are invited' and not 'a group of people is invited' right? Also I read herehttps://gmatclub.com/forum/subject-verb-agreement-pronouns-159965.html#p1268059 that depending upon if we refer to the members or the committee unit we choose if its singular or plural. But using that logic for the below question:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/despite-having-brought-far-more-gear-to-the-campground-than-261237.html#p1422567


"Despite having brought far more gear to the campground than they had in their previous camping trip, the Outdoor Club only had enough food for two days."
isnt is right to say that the Club members are being referred here (and not the committee itself) and so 'they' can be used?

Hi egmat , EMPOWERgmatVerbal

I am confused here.
In Option (A) single set of strings runs --> isnt this correct?
Single set is singular as we can interprete it as 1 set (not 2 set / 3 set then plural)
so For Single set runs Verb matches

Hello priyaf4,
Thank you for the query.

Hope you are doing good.

Yes, grammatically, the SV pair is correct, but NOT logically. Strings run down an instrument. Therefore, it is logical to say that strings run down", not "set of strings". The SV pair in Choice A fails to present logical meaning.

Please check this post for a quick overview of this official question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/unlike-the-virginal-whose-single-set-of-strings-runs-parallel-to-the-242375.html#p1878986


Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha